Folding umbrella



(No Model.)

W, o. WHITNEY. FOLDING UMBRBLLA.

Wzzzama/znej Patented Deo. 15, 1896.

UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE..

VILLIAM OSCAR VHITNEY, OF GLENS FALLS, NEWY YORK.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,375, dated December15, 1896. Application led July 3l, 1895. Serial No. 557,743. p (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM OSCAR WHIT- NEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Glens Falls, in the county of Varren and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Folding Umbrella, of which thefollowing is a specication.

This invention relates to umbrellas whose frames are adapted to fold soas to reduce the dimensions of this class of devices and enable the sameto be packed into a small space either for storing or convenience ofcarrying.

Therpresent invention relates to the improved means whereby the frame isrendered capable of folding or being extended when re quired for use,and the nature of the invention will be more particularly set forthhereinafter, pointed out in the claims, and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical section of anumbrella constructed in accordance with the present invention, showingthe same extended and as it will appear when in use. Fig. 2 is a Viewsimilar to Fig. 1, showing the relative disposition of the parts whenthe structure is folded, the covering beingremoved. Fig. 3 is a detailview of the connections between the rib-sections and the stretchers.Fig. 4 is detail view of the fastening member, which is attached to thelower end of the upper ribf section. ing member applied to the upper endof the lower rib-section. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the forked end of astretcher. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the catch for securing therunner in either of its positions. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the Ineansfor securing the parts.

of the stick or handle together.

The stick is composed of two parts 1 and 2, which are adapted to besecured at their inner ends by means of a spring-latch 3, placed withina splice or coupling 4:, and which has its shouldered end 5 adapted toengage with a slot 6 in one part of the stick. The splice 4t has one endfitted in a bore of the part 2, and is held therein by means of a pin 7,and its projecting portion, which carries the latch 3, is adapted toenter a bore in the part 1. The parts 1 and 2 are formed of metallictubing such as is commonly used in the manufacture of umbrellas. Theslot 6 is formed in the part 1, and its lower end is widened so Fig. 5is a detail view of the fasten-V as to enable the finger to reach theshouldered portion 5 of the latch when it is required to disengage thelatter from the slot 6 by pressing inward upon the shouldered end of thesaid latch. Notches 8 are formed in the stick and are engaged by theactive end of the catch 9, which is pivoted between its ends tothe'runner 10. The free end of the latch 3 projects beyond the shoulder5 a short distance to engage with the inner side of the part 2, so as tolimit the outward movement of the latch at its free end.`

The ribs are attached to the notch 11 in the usual manner, and arecomposed of two sections 12 and 13, which have pivotal connection, so asto admit of the lower sections 13 folding upon the upper sections 12when it is required to reduce the length of the umbrella. The stretchers14 have pivotal connection with the runner 10 in the usual manner, andthe catch 9 is secured to the runner 10 between two of the stretchersand by means of the same wireemployed for attaching the stretchers tothe runner. The upper portion of the catch 9 projects above the upperend of the runner 10, and is provided with a projection which is adaptedto engage with the notches S for securing the runner in the locatedposition. A spring 15, of suitable construction, is interposed betweenthe catch 9 and the runner lO and serves normally to cause the catch toengage with the notch when its active end comes in register therewith.

The fastening or coupling between the sections of a rib comprises amember 1G and a complementary member 17, and these members are securedto the respective rib-sections in any desired manner, preferably byhaving portions 18 thereof extending through corre- Vsponding openingsin the rib-sections and IOO or pin 21 is secured to the member 17 andoperates in aslot or elongated opening 22 of the member 16. The member17 is grooved or channeled, and the pivotal end of the member 16operates in the said groove or channel and is braced laterally by theside portions thereof embracing the sides of the said member 16. Theouter end of the hook 19 is beveled so as to ride upon the pin 2O whenthe sections 12 and 13 are brought into alinem ent, and in' order toprevent the accidental disengagement of the members 16 and 17 the hook19 is undercut slightly, so that its free end will project beyond thepin 20. To admit of the stretchers 14 folding close against the ribs ineither of their two positions, the upper vor outer ends of the saidstretchers are forked and embrace the sides of the members 17, to whichthey are pivotally attached by means of the pins 20. The covering 23 issecured to the notch 11 in the usual manner and to the outer ends of theribs. A spring 25 extends into the space between the hook 19 and themain portion of the member 16, and its upper end is curved so as toretain the pin 2O and hook 19 in Ilocked relation. This spring exerts anupward pressure upon the pin 20, and its free end is prevented frombending back too far by vengaging with a shoulder or stop 24, and it ispreferably an integral part of the `member 16.

IVhen itis required to extend the umbrella, the lower rib-sections 13are turned -and brought into lalinement with the Lipper ribsections 12,and are opened against the tension of the springs 25 until the pins 2Oare engaged with the hooks 19, after which the umbrella can bemanipulated in the Ordin ary way. lVhen the umbrella is closed, thelower portion of the stick can be detached in the ma-nner set forth and'can be ,placed alongside of the structure and ,attached ythereto ina-ny convenient manner.

The invention with slight modilications can be adapted to the variousmakes of umbrellas placed upon the market, and in embodying theinvention to adaptthe same to the various styles it is to be understoodthat changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what -is claimed as new is 1. In afolding umbrella, the combination with the ribs composed of pivotedsections, one `each of which has a longitudinal slot at the pivotaljoint, of pins applied to each of the other sections and pivotallyconnecting them with the sections having the longitudinal slots andoperating in the latter, whereby the sections of each rib are adapted tohave a limited longitudinal movement, hooks on one set of sections, andcross-pins on the opposite sections to be engaged by the said hooks tosecure the sections in locked relation, substantially as set forth.

2. In a folding umbrella, the combination of a rib composed of twosections, one of the sections having a longitudinal slot at its end, ahook a short distance from the slot, and a spring to extend across theopen end of the hook, a pin applied to the terminal of the other sectionto 'engage with the said hook, and a pin pivotally connectin g the twosections and passing through the aforesaid slot so as to admit of alimited movement of the sections, whereby the said hook can bedisengaged from the end of the section in engagement therewith,substantially as set forth.

3. In a folding umbrella, the combination of a rib formed of sections,one section having a slot, and apin applied to the other section andoperating in the said slot for pivot ally connecting the sections andallowing them to have a limited sliding movement the one upon the other,a stretcher, a pin pivotally connecting the extremity of the lowerrib-section with the stretcher, and a hook a short distance from thepivotal end `of the upper rib-section to engage with the pin pivotallyconnecting the stretcher and lower ribsection, substantially as setforth for the purpose described.

i. In a folding umbrella, the combination of ribs formed in sectionswhich have pivotal connection and a limited play at the pivots,stretchers connected by pins with the upper ends of the lowerrib-sections., hooks near the pivotal ends of the upper rib-sections toengage with the pins between the stretchers and the lower rib-sections,and springs 25 arranged so that they will maintain the parts or sectionsof the ribs in locked relation, substantially in the manner set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

lVILLIAM. 'OSCAR IVI IITNEY.

\Vitnesses:

IVI. Pinon KING, C; C. LAPoIN'r.

IOO

